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GIRARD TWP., Mich. (March 18, 2014) — Deputies in Branch County saved a man and three dogs after his home exploded.

According to the sheriff’s office, a call came in on March 17 around 11:50 a.m. that a home had exploded. Off-duty deputies were driving by the home on the corner of Bidwell and Marshall roads, saw the explosion, and responded. They found that a wall had been blown open and that the homeowner was standing inside, still in shock, trying to use his phone.

The home was burning when deputies went inside and got the man out. They say that they could feel the heat radiating up through the floors where the homeowner was standing, and after getting him out, they realized their coats and boots were melting.

Deputies also saved three dogs and they managed to hook up the homeowner’s vehicle to theirs and pull it away from the home.